Signaling systems and related methods

Abstract

A system and method for identifying and locating a remote object is disclosed. The system includes a frequency selective surface having a substantially planar substrate including a radio frequency reflection element. The radio frequency reflection element is configured to a specific radio frequency and provides a reflected radio frequency of the specific radio frequency. The frequency selective surface is maintained in proximity to the remote object and associated with the remote object. The system includes a radio frequency emitter configured to emit the specific radio frequency of the radio frequency reflection element and a radio frequency receiver configured to receive the reflected radio frequency. An operating system is provided that includes a database and a location deriving capability. The operating system is configured to utilize the reflected radio frequency received by the radio frequency receiver to identify the remote object and determine a location of the remote object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A frequency selective surface comprising a substantially planar substrate including a radio frequency reflection element, the radio frequency reflection element configured to a specific radio frequency and provide a reflected radio frequency of the specific radio frequency. 
     
     
         2 . The frequency selective surface of  claim 1 , wherein the reflected radio frequency provides at least one of an identifying information and locating information of the frequency selective surface. 
     
     
         3 . The frequency selective surface of  claim 1 , wherein the frequency selective surface includes at least one of a radio frequency reflective material and a radio frequency absorbing material. 
     
     
         4 . The frequency selective surface of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially planar substrate and the radio frequency reflection element are flexible to allow an out-of-plane bending of the frequency selective surface. 
     
     
         5 . The frequency selective surface of  claim 1 , wherein the reflected radio frequency includes frequencies in a range between 3 MHz to 30 Ghz. 
     
     
         6 . The frequency selective surface of  claim 1 , wherein the frequency selective surface includes a plurality of the radio frequency reflection elements, each radio frequency reflection element reflecting a different radio frequency. 
     
     
         7 . A system for identifying and locating a remote object, the system comprising:
 a frequency selective surface having a substantially planar substrate including a radio frequency reflection element, the radio frequency reflection element configured to a specific radio frequency and provide a reflected radio frequency of the specific radio frequency, the frequency selective surface configured to be maintained in proximity to the remote object;   a radio frequency emitter configured to emit the specific radio frequency of the radio frequency reflection element;   a radio frequency receiver configured to receive the reflected radio frequency; and   an operating system including a database and a location deriving capability, the reflected radio frequency associated with the remote object in the database, and the operating system configured to utilize the reflected radio frequency received by the radio frequency receiver to identify the remote object and determine a location of the remote object.   
     
     
         8 . The system for identifying and locating a remote object of  claim 7 , wherein the frequency selective surface is flexible to allow an out-of-plane bending of the frequency selective surface. 
     
     
         9 . The system for identifying and locating a remote object of  claim 7 , wherein the frequency selective surface is coupled to the remote object. 
     
     
         10 . The system for identifying and locating a remote object of  claim 7 , wherein the frequency selective surface is carried by the remote object. 
     
     
         11 . The system for identifying and locating a remote object of  claim 7 , wherein the reflected radio frequency includes frequencies in a range between 3 MHz to 30 Ghz. 
     
     
         12 . The system for identifying and locating a remote object of  claim 7 , wherein the frequency selective surface includes a plurality of the radio frequency reflection elements, each radio frequency reflection element reflecting a different radio frequency to form a multi-radio frequency reflection pattern associated with the remote object. 
     
     
         13 . The system for identifying and locating a remote object of  claim 7 , wherein the radio frequency emitter includes a member selected from a group consisting of a terrestrial based emitter, a water based emitter, an airborne based emitter, an extra-terrestrial based emitter, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system for identifying and locating a remote object of  claim 7 , wherein the radio frequency receiver includes a member selected from a group consisting of a terrestrial based receiver, a water based receiver, an airborne based receiver, an extra-terrestrial based receiver, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A method of identifying and locating an object, comprising:
 providing a frequency selective surface having a substantially planar substrate including a radio frequency reflection element, the radio frequency reflection element configured to a specific radio frequency and provide a reflected radio frequency of the specific radio frequency;   associating the reflected radio frequency with the object;   providing a radio frequency emitter configured to emit the specific radio frequency of the radio frequency reflection element;   providing a radio frequency receiver configured to receive the reflected radio frequency;   providing an operating system having a database and a location deriving capability, the reflected radio frequency associated with the object being stored in the database;   maintaining the frequency selective surface in proximity to the object;   deploying the object remotely from the radio frequency emitter;   emitting the specific radio frequency of the radio frequency reflection element with the radio frequency emitter;   reflecting the specific radio frequency with the radio frequency reflection element;   receiving the reflected radio frequency with the radio frequency receiver; and   utilizing the reflected radio frequency with the operating system to identify the object and determine a location of the object.   
     
     
         16 . The method of identifying and locating an object of  claim 15 , including providing a report including the identity of the object and the location of the object. 
     
     
         17 . The method of identifying and locating an object of  claim 15 , including coupling the frequency selective surface to the object. 
     
     
         18 . The method of identifying and locating an object of  claim 15 , including having the object carry the frequency selective surface. 
     
     
         19 . The method of identifying and locating an object of  claim 15 , wherein the frequency selective surface includes a plurality of the radio frequency reflection elements, each radio frequency reflection element reflecting a different radio frequency to provide a multi-radio frequency reflection pattern, the multi-radio frequency reflection pattern associated with the object being stored in the database. 
     
     
         20 . The method of identifying and locating an object of  claim 19 , wherein:
 emitting the specific radio frequency of the radio frequency reflection element with the radio frequency emitter includes emitting the specific radio frequency of each of the radio frequency reflection elements with the radio frequency emitter;   reflecting the specific radio frequency with the radio frequency reflection element includes reflecting the specific radio frequency by each of the radio frequency reflection elements to form the multi-radio frequency reflection pattern; and   receiving the reflected radio frequency with the radio frequency receiver includes receiving the multi-radio frequency reflection pattern with the radio frequency receiver.